Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle and Cóbh Heritage Centre by Train
Description
No visit to Ireland is complete without a visit to Blarney Castle! On this full-day trip from Dublin you'll kiss the famous Blarney Stone, walk through the castle grounds and hear the moving story of Ireland's emigrants at the Queenstown Story in Cobh. Traveling by train and coach, you'll take a journey through Ireland's rich history and scenic countryside.
Tour Options
Itinerary
On arrival in Cork at 09:35, we transfer to our tour coach through Cork City to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle – which is over 600 years old. Explore the beautiful gardens and take the time to kiss the famous stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. There is also time for shopping and lunch at Blarney Village. TIP! We recommend that you have lunch there, as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have a substantial meal. You depart Blarney at 13:30 hrs. Approximately – or as directed by your Host – for Cóbh, via the city centre and a short city tour.
When Queen Victoria visited Ireland in 1849 she came to Cóbh and the town was renamed Queenstown in her honour – it was renamed Cóbh after Irish independence in 1922. Cóbh was, of course, the final port of call of the RMS Titanic and this theme is well expounded. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration – 3 million Irish people emigrated from Cóbh (principally to the United States). The Lusitania was torpedoed off the coast of Cork – marking the United States’ entry to the First World War – and the small number of survivors were brought to Cóbh for refuge. Cóbh is also the headquarters of the Irish Navy and you will most likely see some navy ships.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Check in at 6:40AM! Train departs at 7am & it does not wait. Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
- Due to operational reasons it may, on occasion, be necessary to alter certain itineraries.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- Children U16 cannot book independently. They must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
- WHEELCHAIR POLICY: Our tours are a combination of train and luxury coach and include a moderate level of physical activity, such as short walks to meeting points etc. Unfortunately even the most modern luxury coaches (buses) are not wheelchair friendly, thus our tours are not suitable for those with mobility issues, and regretfully walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on our tours.
- This tour offers stops en route for photographs, shopping, etc.
Reviews(523)
Had a great time on this excursion. Brian was a great host. Blarney Castle is gorgeous - don’t sleep on the gardens, they are worth exploring!! Very cute shops here too. Do know you only drive through downtown Cork, you don’t stop to explore Cork. I do wish we had more time to explore Cóbh instead of only one hour. If I could do it again I’d walk up to the main Cóbh village to take photos and see the shops instead of visiting the Heritage Center.
Interesting way to travel from Dublin, however it was a lot of waiting around while we had limited time at the points of interest. The “cork city tour” was only on the tour bus and the only places we got out was at the blarney castle (2 hours) and Cobh heritage center (1 hour). The interactions between the guide and the driver were heated at times. The guide made multiple comments about the driver affecting his tips, and told guests to make sure to tip them separately. The rules about food/drinks on the bus were strict, cold drinks only. We enjoyed Blarney Castle and the village but not sure this was the best way to do it.
Time is very limited at Blarney if there is a crowd for stone and castle. I would have preferred to stay there vs going to 2nd stop.
The train ride and bus were fantastic. Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone are a must-see! Make sure you are clear on where to meet the bus after visiting the castle.
Excellent tour with Norm! Well organized and on time! Norm was very knowledgeable, informative and funny! Highly recommend.
Dear Julie, Thank you for your lovely review! We are so glad you enjoyed the tour, and that Norman was a fantastic host. We hope we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour with us soon! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
The train ride both ways was a welcome opportunity to rest on the second day in country. The Blarney tour was great although more time here and less in Cove would have allowed for a complete garden tour, castle tour and time at the Woolen Mill store. After getting lunch we just did not have time to shop. The time in Cove was good the Cathedral was beautiful. The immigration museum was very Focused on Titanic history and Lusitania sinking.
Hi Roger, Thank you for the 4* review. We are glad you enjoyed the tour. Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Paul ONeill (with 2 l's) was humorous, informative and good at getting us to correct spots. Enjoyed the free time, and all the amazings sights of this area of Ireland.
Dear Kerrie, Thank you for your lovely review - I am sure Paul will be delighted to see this. And thank you very much for your complimentary remarks about the tour itself! We hope we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour with us in the future! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Brian was a friendly and very informative guide. It was a bit disjointed having multiple tours together, but I do understand why they structured it that way. I would recommend. Having participated in a bus tour two days prior, the speed of the train was a welcome change.
Dear Dianne, Thanks for your nice 4* review. We are glad you enjoyed the tour overall, and that Brian was a welcoming hosts throughout your experience. We are glad you enjoyed the train element and that you recommend our tour! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
This experience was amazing we didn’t have to wait in line long to kiss the Blarney Stone went on a Monday though we lo be ed the group went with thanks for a great day
Dear Anne, Thank you for your lovely review. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour and had the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone! We hope we welcome you back on tour with us again someday. Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Great tour. Paul was an excellent guide and Ellie a safe and fun driver. We loved the castle and grounds as well as the heritage center.
Dear Kathleen, Thank you for your very kind review. We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your tour and that Paul and Ellie were excellent hosts. Your kind words will be passed on. We hope to welcome you back on tour with us in the not so far future! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
